HSE and Industry Associations

US agency will not investigate Air Liquide explosion in Texas

ICIS News : 11-Feb-13 22:12

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HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said on Monday it does not plan to conduct an investigation into Saturday’s explosion and subsequent fire at Air Liquide’s industrial gases facility in La Porte, Texas.

Headquartered in Washington DC, the CSB is a federal agency that is responsible for investigating industrial chemical accidents.

“The investigation is still under way, and it’s in the very, very early stages,” said Heather Browne, director of corporate communications for Air Liquide’s US operations. “We still have a lot of structural damage and power and electrical issues. We don’t have a specific timetable, and with the weather, it’s a bit of an issue as well.”

Browne said some of plant’s employees have been relocated to nearby facilities to maintain orders for the week to the company’s customers.

Air Liquide confirmed on Saturday that the employee who had initially been identified as missing had been found.

The second employee was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch and remains hospitalised in critical condition.